(Newswire.net — July 13, 2016) — Finding the money you need to enjoy some of life’s necessities can be a challenge at times if you are living from paycheck to paycheck. Whether you have a ton of money stashed away under a mattress for a rainy day or you are struggling to set aside some money for your retirement fund, here are some ways you can lower your monthly expenses so you’ll have access to extra cash when you need it.
Refinance Your Home – If you own your home, now may be a good time for you to refinance your mortgage. The market has really improved and today’s interest rates may be a lot better than the one you currently have on your mortgage. If you are not sure if refinancing is right for you, talk to your current lender to learn more about your options.
Check Your Driving Habits – Believe it or not, the way you drive your car could be costing you more money than you think and more than what is necessary. Check your tires periodically to ensure they have the right of amount of pressure in them. Driving with tires that do not have enough pressure in them causes your vehicle to burn more fuel. Avoid speeding even when you are on the freeway. Anytime you drive over 60 mph, your car burns more fuel.
Get Rid of Cable – Cable is a luxury that many people enjoy having, even when they don’t use it. Imagine how much money you can save each year if you got rid of the channels you are not watching or nixed your cable bill completely? Depending on your habits and how often you are home, it may be cheaper for you to subscribe to a monthly movie rental subscription service.
Bundle Your Services – If you have your cable, internet and wireless phone service all from the same service provider, you may be able to save more money on all of your services by bundling them together.
Combine Your Insurance Policies – If you have a renters or homeowners policy, auto insurance and life insurance, you can ask your insurer about giving you a discount because you have multiple policies with them. If your insurer doesn’t want to offer you any discounts or you feel that the discounts aren’t enough, feel free to shop around. There are many insurers who may be able to offer you a better deal on your premiums.
Stick With a Budget – It is hard to save money if you keep spending it. Start paying attention to how and when you spend your money so you can stop any wasteful and unnecessary spending that may be going on. Jot down each bill that needs to be paid and when it needs to be paid. Write down every purchase that is made so you can see where your money is going. This will make it much easier for you to pinpoint where you are going wrong so you can fix it.
Switch to Low Interest Credit Cards – If you tend to carry balances on your credit cards, you may want to start shopping for credit cards that have lower interest rates. There are plenty of credit cards available that offer low interest rates and many of them also allow balance transfers. Evaluate your situation and if you are in the process of getting rid of your balances and don’t intend to use your cards again anytime soon, pay them off as soon as you can and place those cards somewhere out of view so they can’t be used unless it’s an emergency.
Educate Yourself – Do some research in your spare time so you can learn how to improve your spending habits and financial behavior. Websites like MoneySavingPro.com offers plenty of money saving tips that you can use to improve your financial situation.
Appeal Your Property Tax Assessment – Don’t just agree with the assessment the tax man makes on your property. Pay attention to your tax assessments and appeal them. Even if you don’t think they are too high, an appeal may grant you some extra cash because it has the potential to lower your tax bill.
Lowering your monthly expenses is an art that requires you to be dedicated. The more changes you are willing to make to improve your spending habits, the more money you’ll be able to save on your monthly expenses.